Ryro

I would strongly recommend buying elsewhere. Those prices are higher than a hippie in a helicopter. 

Beauuuuuutiful example, good buddy! And what and incredible place and time in history?!

And this is as good a chance as any to show off one of my favorite new coins:

Saguntum / Arse. Sagunto
180-20BCE (Valencia Spain)
AE Sextans, 2.14 gr, 16mm, 
Scallop shell. Dolphin, crescent above star and Iberian letter A below.
Burgos 2064. Saturnalia 2023 gift from @bcuda former Il Iberico Collection.

Next: Sicily

10 minutes ago, ambr0zie said:

I will post this for other people who might be interested (I already discussed with Ryro). 

The coin is a very interesting one. After failing to get a right attribution I requested help from a gentleman who is extremely skilled in attributing coins (unfortunately he is not able to join our community - the reasons are objective and I will not say more about this). 

His verdict:

- the reverse depics a stylized Greek version of the headdress of Isis

- it appears to be an unpublished variety from Iasus in Caria (this was my guess as well)

- similar to https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4337810 but from a different time ( another example - https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/11830?fbclid=IwAR3ko_oQc9RMibwvizzLkgGf-P3Ue7Hq4JnnC3Gga_2jmvHxovVjfVd0dqU    )

- he suspects 1st century BC - 1st century AD period. 

I personally trust him a lot as I seeked his help a few times, for coins I found impossible (and I never give up easily) but he always got the correct attribution. 

 

 

Many thanks for all your help, thanks to your friend and all my NF buddies for helping as well!

I have submitted it to RPC with your identification and am already eager to hear back (hopefully it doesn't get set aside by whomever is in charge of this borderline area). And I wonder if it will qualify as provincial at all or just Greek? Will we ever know??

@Phil Davis I was an under under bidder for the one @ambr0zie referenced from Nomos Obols. And after seeing the example from Naumann I NEED one of the type!

Just now, DonnaML said:

Thanks -- but who's Betty?

Lol. Typo. *VERY

2 hours ago, DonnaML said:

This new coin represents a very unusual type (as far as I can tell), so I spent quite a bit of time yesterday researching possible origins and parallels. I guess I must be feeling a bit better to have been able to concentrate for so long. Plus, I'm trying to convince myself that I haven't lost too many brain cells from this illness, despite an article I read the other day claiming that the average IQ of people who've had even a mild case of Covid is 3 points less than those who haven't had it at all. 6 points less if you've been hospitalized! (I am, needless to say, somewhat suspicious of the accuracy of a claim of such tiny differences.)

So here goes:

Claudius II Gothicus, Billon Tetradrachm, 269/270 AD (Year 2), Alexandria, Egypt mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, wreath ties type “e” (Milne) (one tie straight down and one pointing back), ΑVΤ•Κ•ΚΛΑV–ΔΙΟϹ•ϹΕΒ / Rev. Poseidon standing left, nude, hair bound with taenia, head looking downwards, right leg bent at knee with right foot resting on dolphin, holding trident in left hand and Lorbeerbäumchen (small laurel tree or branch) or palm branch [not sword or aphlaston]* in right hand, L – B (Year 2) across fields.

References:

RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. X Online 75618 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/75618) (palm branch in Poseidon’s right hand);

Förschner 1151 (ill. p. 361) [Förschner, Gisela, Die Münzen der Römischen Kaiser in Alexandrien, Historisches Museum Frankfurt (1987)] (Lorbeerbäumchen in Poseidon’s right hand; see fn.);

Milne 4254 at p. 101 (same obv. legend) [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)] (sword);

BMC 16 Alexandria 2307 at p. 300 (rev. ill. Pl. II) [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892] (sword);

Kellner Teil 17, p. 51 (ill. p. 139 Abb. 6) [Wendelin Kellner, Die Münzstätte Alexandria in Ägypten (2009)] (jagged sword or cutlass representing navy];

Sear GIC 4742 (ill. p. 461) [D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (Seaby 1982)] (sword);

K & G 104.32 at p. 329 [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)] (aphlaston);

Emmett 3893.2 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)] [no mention of object held in Poseidon’s right hand];

Geissen (Köln) 3045 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band IV (Claudius Gothicus - Domitius Domitianus) (Cologne, 1983) (aphlaston);

Curtis 1718 at p. 124 [James W. Curtis, The Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt (1969)] (sword);

Sear RCV III 11414 at p. 407 (“uncertain object”).

22 mm., 10.09 g., 12 h.

Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC) Electronic Auction 556, 21 Feb. 2024, Lot 418 [object held by Poseidon identified as “aphlaston?”), from the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection**, ex A.H. Baldwin (London, UK), purchased 16 Oct 1989 (with coin tickets from Beniak Collection and A.H. Baldwin).

A photo I took of the reverse -- a bit blurry, but it shows the coin's actual dark brown color:

The A.H. Baldwin and Beniak Collection coin tags. (The 1989 date of Dr. Beniak's purchase from Baldwin is written on the back of that tag. Note the purchase price in GBP in 1989!)

*See Förschner, op. cit. at p. 361 fn., explaining as follows: “Die Rückeitenbeschreibung des Gegenstandes in Poseidons Rechten als Schwert (BMC 2307) oder Aphlaston (Slg. Köln 3045) is sicherlich nicht zutreffend und ‘undefinierbares Objekt’ (Datt. 5406 f.) wurde vermieden” [Translation: “The reverse description of the object in Poseidon's right hand as a sword (BMC 2307) or aphlaston (Cologne Coll. 3045) is certainly not accurate and ‘indefinable object’ (Dattari 5406 f.) was avoided.”] Thus, the aphlaston, “or aplustre, was a component of the ancient warship that was understood as an abstract form of a bird with multiple beaks facing inward from the stern.” See https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Aphlaston, illustrating the term with the following coin:

 

The object in Poseidon’s right hand on the reverse of the Claudius II tetradrachm, by contrast, is neither curved nor resembles multiple bird beaks in any way. I suspect that the idea that he holds an aphlaston may be derived from the fact that Poseidon’s stance on the reverse is immediately evocative of -- and was clearly modeled upon, directly or indirectly -- Neptune’s stance on the reverse of a famous denarius of Sextus Pompey, minted in Sicily in 37-36 BCE (Crawford 511/3a). On that reverse, Neptune’s stance is virtually identical, but he does, in fact, appear to hold an aphlaston or aplustre in his right hand. See this example at  https://www.acsearch.info/image.html?id=3107848:

And this one at https://www.acsearch.info/image.html?id=3511934 :

 

However, just because Neptune holds an aphlaston on the Sextus Pompey coin does not mean that Poseidon holds one on the Claudius II coin: the stance may be almost identical, including the raised right knee and the head looking downwards, but there are other differences, including the fact that Neptune’s right foot rests on a prow rather than a dolphin, and that he holds a chlamys rather than a trident in his left hand.

Nor, I believe, can the object in Poseidon’s right hand on the Claudius II tetradrachm, although straight, be reasonably interpreted as a sword. Swords do not generally have leaves on them, as this object certainly does – as can be seen even more clearly on these other examples illustrated at RPC X Online and on Acsearch:

From RPC X Online (ill. of Milne 4253 [same type as mine with diff. spacing of obv. legend]):

 

From RPC X Online (ill. of Geissen 3045):

From RPC X Online (ill. of BMC 2307):

 

From ACSearch (ill. of  CNG Auction 474, 12 Aug 2020, Lot 308):

I have little doubt that the object held by Poseidon on all these specimens, including mine, is, in fact, some sort of small tree or tree branch; whether it was intended to be laurel or a palm, I cannot be certain.

The closest parallel I have found to this type of Claudius II that was issued by any other emperor in Roman Alexandria is this rare type of Gallienus, Year 15 (Milne 4155, K&G 90.108), sold by CNG in 2019:

 

 

Except for the fact that Poseidon appears to be looking straight ahead rather than downwards, the style and elements of the reverse design appear to be the same as those on the Claudius II type. Although Milne identified the object held by Poseidon on this Gallienus type as a sword and K&G as an aphlaston, CNG identified it as a palm frond, and it appears indisputable to me that, as on the Claudius II type, the object is intended to represent some kind of small tree or branch.

It should be noted that there are other Roman Alexandrian types with reverses showing Poseidon with one knee bent, such as this Year 5 tetradrachm of Antoninus Pius (RPC IV.4 online 13467 [temp.]) depicting Poseidon resting his foot on a prow and holding a trident and small dolphin:

See also this similar Roman Imperial denarius depicting Neptune, issued by Vespasian (RIC II.1 Vespasian 1309):

 

But these types obviously shed no light on the nature of the object held by Poseidon on the Roman Alexandrian coins of Claudius II and Gallienus. Nor does Poseidon’s head face downwards on these types. That particular stance appears to be exclusive to the types of Sextus Pompey and Claudius II -- which is probably why I immediately thought of the Sextus Pompey denarius when I noticed my Claudius II tetradrachm listed in the recent CNG auction.

**See this autobiography of Dr. Beniak printed in the catalog for CNG’s E-Auction 556:

The Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection

I was born on July 30, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to parents Edward Beniak and Evelyn Stodola Beniak. My childhood and adolescent years were spent in Cudahy, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee on the shores of Lake Michigan. I attended Cudahy public schools through high school, graduating in June of 1965. Following in the footsteps of my grandfather and father, I matriculated to Marquette University, graduating cum laude with an A.B. degree in psychology in May of 1969. I was fortunate to be accepted into the University of Minnesota’s doctoral training program in Clinical Psychology, beginning my studies in the Twin Cities in September, 1969.

Always a responsible student, college and particularly graduate school left little time if any for the hobbies I had enjoyed beginning in early childhood. Spare time in high school was largely consumed by interscholastic athletics. During college and graduate school, athletics were very limited and purely recreational. In retrospect, it was easy for me to identify a genetic pre-disposition to collect beginning with stamps and then the US coins that could be gleaned from circulation in the 50’s and 60’s. Thanks to the Stamp and Coin Department in Gimbels’s downtown store, occasional exotic foreign coins and perhaps even an ancient coin or two made the journey from New York to downtown Milwaukee and would catch my eye.

Acquiring my first ancient coin and the story behind it remain vivid in my memory. My maternal grandparents grew up on farms near Rice Lake, Wisconsin surrounded by lakes and the north woods. The highlight of each summer was to visit relatives there especially my two great uncles. Otto, the older of the two had enlisted in the Army in 1942 at 44 years of age to prevent his younger brother from being drafted. As fortune would have it, he ended up in a combat engineering outfit and traversed much of North Africa, Sicily, and the entire Italian peninsula. In June of 1959 while looking through Uncle Otto’s penny and dime jars, he blurted out “I think I’ve got a more interesting coin for you from Italy!” It came with an interesting story. His unit was assisting a British combat engineering unit clearing debris near Rome. In doing so, a clay pot was bulldozed spewing coins all over. British soldiers filled their pockets and later shared them with their American comrades and that’s how I got my first ancient coin, a beautiful extra fine sestertius of Phillip I with elephant and mahout reverse. Of course, it took me 13 years and a visit with Harlan Berk at the 1972 Central States Show to find out what it was.

Graduate studies allowed little time for hobbies. My academic interests and professional goals drifted away from traditional clinical psychology toward a relatively new subspecialty, clinical neuropsychology. Concerns over personality disorders and psychopathology were set aside and neurological disorders/patients became my focus along with how to evaluate the cognitive effects and deficits of same. Upon completion of my doctorate, I accepted a staff position at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and remained there for 10 years, working primarily with epilepsy patients, especially surgical candidates. In April of 1987, I continued this work in private practice. I also developed an active forensic neuropsychology practice which grew considerably after retiring from the university in 2015. Complete retirement essentially came on the heels of the COVID epidemic.

Despite working many long hours at my profession, I always found time to return to and indulge in my earlier passions including a love of history, classics (fostered by my father), and of course numismatics which now focused entirely on ancient coins.

Family life was also very important to me. In August of this year, my wife, Judith and I celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary. Originally trained as a nurse, Judith retired in 2017 after a long and very productive career at the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center. Her work there ranged from staff RN on the organ transplant service to the founding director of the Health Careers Center. Judith helped lead this innovative center recruiting and coaching pre-health students in their exploration of health careers for 15 years. We have two children, Alexander and Larissa. Alexander is involved in security technologies and Larissa is a medical social worker.

My return to active coin collecting, especially ancients, dates to 1972 at which time Greek silver and Roman denarii and sesterces were the focus. As of November 1984 and owning only one billon tetradrachm, I initiated the pursuit of all things Roman Egypt, this quest lasting to the present. My efforts have provided me with enormous enjoyment, satisfaction, and a wealth of knowledge. Along the way, I have also made countless friends from the ranks of both dealers and fellow collectors. Ongoing involvement in the Twin Cities Ancient Coin Club since 1974 has also contributed significantly. All have played an important role in building my collection and most importantly enjoying it. Thanks to you all. 

I LOVED THIS!!! This should have been is own post!

What an excellent coin and behind the scenes/getting to know Donna and very cool story about your Uncle Otto and first ancient! 

About the coin, at first I thought it was some kind of strange Poseidon/Zeus hybrid holding a trident and thunderbolt. But agree on the likelihood of it being an aphlaston/aplustre.  

Here's my busted Magnus:

Sextus Pompeius. Denarius, Sicily circa 42-40, AR 19.6 mm, 3.19 g. MAG·PIVS·IMP·ITER Head of Cn. Pompeius Magnus r.; behind, jug and before, lituus. Rev. PRAEF Neptune standing l., r. foot on prow, holding aplustre; on either side one of the Catanaean brothers carrying his father on his shoulder. In exergue, CLAS·ET·ORæ / [MARIT·EX·S·C]. Syd. 1344. B. Pompeia 27. C 17. Cr. 511/3a. Very rare. Struck on large flan. F-VF Purchased from GN Damian Marciniak October 2021 

Stunning example of a very fun type! Both the portrait and reverse are excellent. 

Here is my second rung, but still cute enough to take to the dance, of the type:

Julia Domna (AD 193-217). AR denarius (20mm, 3.30 gm, 1h). VF, flan crack. Rome, AD 200-207. IVLIA-AVGVSTA, draped bust of Julia Domna right, seen from front, hair braided in waves and tucked in large chignon at back of head / SAECVLI F-ELICITAS, Isis, wearing peaked headdress, standing right, left foot on prow, holding the infant horus at her breast; to left, altar, against which rests a rudder. RIC IV.I (Septimius Severus) 577. Ex: Dr Elkowicz Jan 2021 "An issue of aurei, denarii and sesterces in the name of the Empress Julia Domna appears on the reverse Isis. The legend SAECVLI FELICITAS invites to consider this strike as the indication of a new era of prosperity thanks to the Severan family back from Egypt. Already attached to the Antonine dynasty by the will of Septimius Severus, Divi Marci filius since 194, it promises stability and order to the Empire."

Here is a strange little "shield coin" that has been sitting in my needs a correct identification pile for a few months now. I purchased from a trusted auction house, Olympus. They had it listed as a type that I can't find anywhere:

CARIA. Hydisos. Ae (Circa 200-100 BC).

AE Bronze (15.1mm 3.8g)

Obv: YΔI / ΣEΩN head of zeus r.

Rev: shield

...Only it is not a shield on the reverse at all (at least I don't think it is anymore)! After spending a couple of months trying to find the shield coin that this is listed as I realized that I should have looked at the picture closer. I was rolling the coin around in my hand looking at it when I realized that the top looks a lot like the Solar Disk crown that Isis sometimes wears! The photographer even has the coin situated correctly with the horns at the top. The only issue is that "Hathor's Crown" only has 2 bull horns on the sides of the disk.

So my "revelation" kind of feels like I am back to square one as I have searched using the Greek lettering, Zeus, crown, Isis,  etc. and came up with nothing. 

I'd been bugging a good coin buddy on what he thought it might be and he initially thought it could be Pseudo-autonomous from the Antonines or Severans, or a 3rd - 2nd century BC Greek.

The closest in style that I've found are these Pseudo-autonomous coins from Pitane that do indeed have shields (with cool pentagram bosses). I have two of them:

MYSIA. Pitane. Pseudo-autonomous. Time of Domitian (81-96). Ae. Obv: ΘЄA PΩMH. Turreted head of Roma right. Rev: ΠITANAIΩN. Pentagram within shield. RPC II -; RPC Supp. II 956B var. (obv. legend); SNG von Aulock 1431; SNG Copenhagen 539. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 2.03 g. Diameter: 17 mm. Purchased from Savoca Feb 2022

 But I don't think they are related to my latest mystery.  

Any ideas on this ugly little mystery that I probably paid too much for thinking it was a rare shield coin are appreciated?

24 minutes ago, seth77 said:

I think that's Aemilian AN XIV 

Good eye! I have removed Aemilian and put the correct coin. 

Great thread idea RC!

Here are a few leapers (1 that I haven't shown before):

Pyrrhos

ITALY. Calabria. Tarentum

Didrachm or nomos (silver). Approx. 280 - 272 BC Chr.

Obv: warrior on horseback with Macedonian shield w/star of Vergina boss and spear riding left; Zeta Omega in left field, magistrate's name between legs.

Rev: Naked Taras with spindle and bunch of grapes, riding left on dolphin; in the field on the right ear of corn.

22mm 6.45g

HN Italy 1013; Coll. Vlasto 800.

Very nice. Purchased from Solidus March 2023

Kings of Numidia, Massinissa or Micipsa (203-148 BC or 148-118 BC). Æ(32,3mm, 11,8g). Laureate head l. R/ Horse galloping l.; pellet below. MAA 18a; Mazard 50; SNG Copenhagen 505.

PHRYGIA, Kibyra.

Circa 166-84 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 2.65 g, 11h). Helmeted head of male (Kibyras?) right / Horseman, holding couched spear and palm, riding right; O below. HGC 7, 706; SNG Ashmolean 996 var. (O below). VF

Purchased from Savoca Feb2023

Cool new (slightly used) coin @kirispupis! Very interesting subject. One that most of us have pondered, but one that seems unknowable.

Here is a very rare coin I have from Thurium. Might not be the oldest, but sure is pretty to look at:

LUCANIA, Thurium as Copia (193-150 BCE) AE As. 9.40g, 22mm.
Obv: Laureate head of Janus
Rev: COPIA in right field; Cornucopia, caduceus and I (mark of value) in left field.
HN Italy 1935. Very rare. cf. CNG E-Auction 374, 11.05.2016, lot 9 (hammer 260 USD); same dies as NAC Auction 84, 20.05.2015, lot 564 (hammer 2250 CHF)
Very rare and in fine style.

Purchased from AMCC3 July 2021

So many great coins! Excellent thread @ambr0zie!!!

Decius has some very cool coins with excellent portraits. Here are a few of mine:

Trajan Decius, AD 249-251. Struck between July-Dec, 250 AD. Silver Antoninianus (4.12 g) minted at Rome, AD 250. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius right. Reverse: Abundantia (Abundance) standing right, emptying her cornucopiae. RIC 10b, RSC 2. Meticulously detailed portrait. Ex El Iberico Collection. Saturnalia 2020 gift from @bcuda

Here's a recent purchase that you identified!

CILICIA, Tarsus. Trajan Decius. AD 249-251. Æ (34mm, 21.7 g, 6h). Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; П П across field / Fisherman (Dictys or King Polydectes?) standing right, holding long pole from which is suspended a basket over shoulder, facing Perseus standing left, holding head of Medusa and harpa. SNG France 1759-60 (same dies); SNG Levante -. Near VF, brown surfaces.

Trajan Decius

(249-251). Moesia Superior,

Viminacium. Æ (28mm,

14.96g, 12h). Year 11

(244/5). Laureate, draped

and cuirassed bust r. R/

Moesia standing facing,

head l.; bull and lion at

sides. Boric-Breskovic

1090ff; AMNG 124. Green Patina

And family

Herennia Etruscilla-

Roman Empress wife of Trajan

Decius - Bronze 25mm (11.31

grams) Roman Colony of

Viminacium, MOESIA SUPERIOR

Reference: Moushmov 48, SNGCop

164, SGI 4220. --

HER ETRVSCILLA AVG, draped bust

right on crescent moon

P M S COL VIM, Moesia standing

left between bull & lion, AN XII in

ex. Former SAVOCA coin

Hostilian

MOESIA SUPERIOR.

Viminacium (251). Ae.

Obv: C VAL HOST M

QVINTVS CAE. Draped and

cuirassed bust right.

Rev: P M S COL VIM / AN

XII. Moesia standing facing,

head left, extending hands

to bull and lion standing at

feet to either side.

Martin 4.01; AMNG 148ff

And Herennius Etruscus

Herennius Etruscus

MOESIA,SUPERIOR, Viminacium. As Caesar, AD 249-251. Æ 26mm (11.81 g, 5h). Dated CY 12 (AD 250/1). Bare-headed and cuirassed bust right / Moesia standing facing, head left, hands placed above bull on left and lion on right; AN XII (date) in exergue. Jekov & Hristova 61; Mouchmov 50. VF for type, green patina, 250-251. nearly very fine

Volusian

CILICIA, Tarsus (?). 251-253 AD. Æ 33mm (21.1 g). Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Herakles and Antaeus: Herakles standing facing, head left, leaning right and wrestling Antaeus; he lifts Antaeus up into the air by the waist while Antaeus tries to break his grip. Unlisted in RPC/ACSearch/Wild Winds/ Very Fine. Purchased from NBS auction November 2021

Two receipts to avoid looking at these days: ancient coin purchases and basic food. 

I agree with much of your sentiment. Things are tough all over. 

1- bargain auction houses appear to be drying up. 

B- I used to have so many "marks" and a few of their accompaning "snacks" on my watch list from multiple auction houses. Right now my list is almost all snacks from just a few houses and very few exciting coins on the horizon. 

3- the few coins that I've been excited about the last couple of months have slipped through my fingers...or were ripped away. Bidding is fierce!

Though, while I complain I was able to steal my most recent purchase for 100€ under what it sold for pre Covid:

LAKONIA. Lakedaimon (Sparta). Circa 35-31 BC. Dupondius (Bronze, 25 mm, 5.68 g, 10 h), Timandros, ephor. [E TIMA]NΔPOC Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. Λ-A Artemis standing front, head to left, holding patera in her right hand and spear in her left; at feet to left, hunting dog standing left; in field to right, monogram; all within wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 912-913. Grunauer XIX, Series 2. Rare. Very fine.

From an American collection and previously from an Australian collection, Leu Web Auction 10, 7-8 December 2019, 292.

AUREOLUS

Antoninianus

OBVERSE: IMP POSTVMVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Postumus right

REVERSE: VIRTVS EQVIT, Virtus advancing right, holding transverse spear and shield; T in ex.

Struck at Mediolanum, 268 AD

3.17g, 19mm

RIC V 388

Next: Britain 

Phil the Arab has some fun coins. He even celebrated Rome's 1,000 year anniversary.

I bought this fella cause I liked the little Mahout, and in hand the toning is a cool bonus as well:

Philip I. (244-249 AD). AR Antoninianus, Roma (Rome), 247-249 AD. 3.56 Gr. 22mm.

Radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind.

Rev. Elephant guided by mahout with goad and wand, walking left

I've been hunting a Spartan coin for a few years. But for how ugly they are I just hadn't been willing to bid as high as others. For whatever reason this beauty caught my eye and I nabbed it up at today's Leu auction:

LAKONIA. Lakedaimon (Sparta). Circa 35-31 BC. Dupondius (Bronze, 25 mm, 5.68 g, 10 h), Timandros, ephor. [E TIMA]NΔPOC Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. Λ-A Artemis standing front, head to left, holding patera in her right hand and spear in her left; at feet to left, hunting dog standing left; in field to right, monogram; all within wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 912-913. Grunauer XIX, Series 2. Rare. Very fine.

From an American collection and previously from an Australian collection, Leu Web Auction 10, 7-8 December 2019, 292.

As you may know, my coin isn't from Sparta's peak, cause Sparta didn't mint coins at their peak! Sparta deliberately used iron currency to make amassing wealth unwieldy, and remained on an iron currency standard all through Greece's golden age.

So, if you want Spartan currency from their heyday you might be a bit disappointed:

(Spartan $)

And here is one of my Spartan medals from a few years back:

So please share your Spartan coins, wins from Leu, thoughts or whatever dominate Athens!

next: fun hairstyle

Weight and size?

Antigonos Monophthalmus was a one eyed, hulking, beast of a man, who died when he was 81:

Next: gorgon

1 hour ago, Phil Anthos said:

Sicily - You're Kidding!

Not intentionally (awkward). I just posted a place. so that I can avoid further embarrassment, what did I do wrong?

Sardes-->Sicily

Sicily. Syracuse. Dionysos I (406-367 BC). AE Hemilitron. Obv. Head of Arethusa left, wearing necklace, hair bound in ampyx and sphendone; olive leaves behind. Rev. Dolphin swimming right; Σ Y P A and cockle shell below. CNS II 24/1-7; HGC 2 1480. AE. 2.58 g. 16.00 mm. Good VF. Purchased from Artemide Aste

Next: old man

Sorry to read. We were very proactive, but ended up getting it about a year and a half ago. First time in the history of men and women that she was more sick than I was. 

Just rest and take it easy. We'll all be here eagerly awaiting your sharing the new coins in good health. 

Also a bunch of Seleucids. Look out that one bottom center has a bad case of bronze disease and should be removed from the others and placed in distilled water. 

Next: bird that's not an eagle nor an owl